Maternity panty girdle



Jul 13, 1965 L. H. LEOFFEL. 3,194,241

MATERNITY PANTY GIRDLE Filed Oct. 25, 1963 United States Patent 3,194,241 MATERNITY PANTY GLE Lester H.,Leotfel, West Haven, Conn., assignor to Th Berger Brothers Company, New Haven, Conn. Filed Oct. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 318,874 3 Claims. (Cl. 128528) This invention relates generally to the field of figure control garments, and more particularly to an improved panty girdle suitable for use by expectant mothers throughout substantially the full period of pregnancy. Devices of this type are generally known in the art, and the invention lies in specific constructional details permitting improved support and comfort while wearing the same.

It is among the principalobjects of the present invention to provide an improved panty girdle of the type described which may resemble in appearance conventional panty garments, and in which the built-in control elements are substantially concealed from view.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved panty-type girdle suitable for maternity use, in which the control members are disposed upon the inner surfaces thereof, whereby the garment may present an attractive external appearance.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved panty girdle'suitable for maternity use, having provision for accommodation of the vertical enlargement of the abdomen during the pregnancy period.

Yet a further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved area of double elastic material in the front portion of the garment to fit around the lower abdomen and cradle the same, the upper edge of the double area of elastic being serrated to prevent binding.

A feature of the invention lies in the provision of an improved double elastic area at the rear portion of the garment which aids the muscles in the sacro-lumbar area.

Another feature of the invention lies in the low cost of manufacture of the garment, as contrasted with existing prior art devices, thereby permitting consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational View thereof, in which the device has been turned inside-out from a normal wearing position.

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevational view showing the side opposite that seen in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view, as seen from the righthand portion of FIGURE 2.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10, includes left and right main panel elements 11 and 12, respectively, interconnected along a medial line of interconnection 13. As interconnected, the device is bounded by a continuous upper edge 14 having an upper edge-reinforcing band 15, and similarly reinforced leg openings 16 and 17.

Secured to the inwardly disposed surface of the panel elements ,11 and 12 are a pair of angularly disposed elastic reinforcing members 19, which are similar and symmetrical. Each member 19 includes an inner vertical edge 20, a lower inclined edge 21, and upper and lower outer generally vertically disposed edges 22 and 23. An

3,194,241 Patented July 13, 1955 'ice upper horizontal edge 24 is coaxially disposed with respect to the edge 14, and interconnects with a serrated upper inclined edge 25, the locus of the high points 26 and low points 27 being disposed on a curve which corresponds to the outline of the lower abdomen of the wearer. The members 19 each include a principal axis of stretch 28 which is parallel to the principal axis of the respective member, and, as best seen in FIGURES l and 2, the interconnection of the members 19 defines a generally semicircular control area of single-ply thickness. In this area, the elastic material has a generally horizontally disposed principal axis of stretchability, but, as in the preferred construction, where a power net elastic is employed, a substantial degree of vertical stretch is also possible where required.

Referring to FIGURES 3 and 4 in the drawing, the outer vertical edges 23 interconnect with a pair of rearwardly disposed central reinforcing panels 31, which are similar and symmetrically arranged in the sacro-lumbar area of the wearer. Each of the panels 31 is bounded by an upper horizontal edge 32, an inner vertical edge 33, coaxial with the line 13, .a lower curved edge 34, and an outer angularly disposed edge 35. The above interconnection defines a pair of triangularly-shaped areas 36 in the area of the upper edge 14 of single-ply thickness at the rearward portion of the garment to prevent an excessively tight top edge, whereby roll-over or curling is eliminated.

As is well-known in constructions of this type, there may be provided a plurality of garter members 38, 39, 40 and 41, the upper ends 42 of which are preferably interconnected in the area of double-ply thickness, so as to cause minimum distortion in the garment when worn.

It will be observed that when the garment is donned, a relatively gentle supporting action is provided by the entire areas of the left and right main panel elements 11 and 12, and where additional support is required to supplement the external oblique abdominal muscles, this is provided for by the presence of the angularly disposed reinforcing members 19. The elastic action of these members is supplemented by the interconnection of the same with the rear control panels 31 in cases of extreme stretch, and, in turn, the resilient action of the members 19 contributes to reinforcing the upper portion of the rear control panels 31 for adequate sacro-lumbar support. As all of the members 19 and 31 are interconnected by stitch means at the free edges thereof to the main panel elements 11 and 12, the relative position of the members 19 and 31 is preserved through all distortion occur-ring during wearing, and laundering of the garment involves no special care.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. In a maternity panty girdle, first and second main panel elements of elastic material interconnected along a medial line, and forming a continuous upper edge, and a pair of lower continuous edges defining leg openings; first and second elongated reinforcing members having a principal axis angularly disposed with respect to said medial line, secured to a forward portion of said first and second main panel elements, respectively, each of said reinforcing members being of elastic material having a principal axis of elongation parallel to said first-mentioned principal axis, each of said reinforcing members including a serrated upper inclined edge, said serrated upper inclined edge having high and low points, the locus of which define a curve on said main panel elements corresponding to the outline of the lower abdomen of a wearer.

2. A aconstruction according to claim 1,-inclnding Va ing members are:intepconnectegtfo"said'fitsifand second first and second frear reinforcing panelof elasticmaterial rear reinforcing, panelsirespectively. V connected tovsaid first and second main panel elements, V V q 1f V r V respectively, saidmat-erial having a principal stretch axis 7 References tfi fi emfl -substanti-allyparalle1 to said' upper edgeof'said'firs t, and 5 UNITEDISTATES ;PATENTS*L I second panelielement's, each of'said rear reinforcingpanels 2,803,822) c y z 2g f defining an area onsaid main panel elements cor-respondf 2932,2935 J Chubby, 3;;5 ing to the sacro-lumbar a rea of a wearer.

3. A vconstruction according to claim 2,wher,ein portionsofzsaid first and second angularly disposed re-inforc- 10 ADELE M; Examiliefr'; j V 

1. IN A MATERNITY PANTY GIRGLE, FIRST AND SECOND MAIN PANEL ELEMENTS OF ELASTIC MATERIAL INTERCONNECTED ALONG A MEDIAL LINE, AND FORMING A CONTINUOUS UPPER EDGE, AND A PAIR OF LOWER CONTINUOUS EDGES DEFINING LEG OPENINGS; FIRST AND SECOND ELONGATED REINFORCING MEMBERS HAVING A PRINCIPAL AXIS ANGULARLY DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO SAID MEDIAL LINE, SECURED TO A FORWARD PORTION OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND MAIN PANEL ELEMENTS, RESPECTIVELY, EACH OF SAID REINFORCING MEMBERS BEING OF ELASTIC MATERIAL HAVING A PRINCIPAL AXIS OF ELONGATION PARALLEL TO SAID FIRST-MENTIONED PRINCIPAL AXIS, EACH OF SAID REINFORCING MEMBERS INCLUDING A SERRATED UPPER INCLINED EDGE, SAID SERRATED UPPER INCLINED EDGE HAVING HIGH AND LOW POINTS, THE LOCUS OF WHICH DEFINE A CURVE ON SAID MAIN PANEL ELEMENTS CORRESPONDING TO THE OUTLINE OF THE LOWER ABDOMEN OF A WEARER. 